C T Online Desk: The prices of different essential food items, including vegetables, rice, fish and broiler chicken, have marked a sharp rise in the markets of the capital, causing immense sufferings for consumers, particularly for the low-and fixed-income groups.
The price of each vegetable has increased at least Tk 5 to 20, this correspondent found during a visit to several kitchen markets on Friday.
The price of rice decreased slightly last week, but this week it has increased again. Apart from this, the prices of fish, broiler chicken and beef have increased.
Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the unusual hike in the prices of daily essentials.
Traders have blamed a rise in the number of marriage ceremony, dried supply of essential items due to the cold wave and lack of transport for Bishwa Ijtema.
Although traders spoke of a supply shortage, all the kitchen markets were full of essential food items.
A cauliflower was being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 in Thatari Bazaar of the capital, which price was Tk 30 last week.
Similarly, cabbage was being sold at Tk 40 per piece, broccoli at Tk 50 per piece, brinjal at Tk 60 per kg, tomato at Tk 50 per kg, which were sold at Tk 35, Tk 40, Tk 55 and Tk 45 respectively last week.
In Kuratoli Bazar, carrot was sold at Tk 40 per kg, beans at Tk 40 to 50 per kg, which were sold at Tk 30 and Tk 40 respectively last week.
Besides, luffa was sold at Tk 60 per kg, radish Tk 30 per kg, kohlrabi at Tk 30, cucumber at Tk 40 to 50, yardlong bean at Tk 100, bottle guard at Tk 80, green papaya at Tk 25, new potato at Tk 30 to 35, onion at Tk 30 and green chillies were sold at Tk 120 per kg.
Masum Mia, a vegetable trader at Kuratoli Bazaar, said, “Supply of vegetables has decreased due to the cold wave and lack of transport for Bishwa Ijtema. Therefore, vegetable prices have increased.”
The price of fine rice has gone up this week. Fine miniket rice was being sold at Tk 68 to Tk 75 per kg depending on the market and quality, while the good quality Nazirshail rice was sold at Tk 75 to 85 per kg.
Malibagh market’s rice trader Halim Chowdhury said, “Maximum rice available in the Aman season is coarse rice. That is why the price of coarse rice does not increase at this time, but the price of fine rice is increasing due to the lack of supply.”
Fish markets have experienced a significant price hike on Friday.
Depending on sizes, Rui fish was sold at Tk 330 to 450 on the day while the price of Katol was Tk 300 to 350 per kg, Boal at Tk 550 to 650, Pangas and tilapia was Tk 170 to 220, Shing Tk 500 to 600, Koi (hybrid) at Tk 200 to 250, pabda (hybrid) at Tk 400 to 450 and tengra was sold at Tk 550 to 700 per kg. Each of these fish items priced Tk 20 to 100 less in the last week.
Ziauddin, a fish trader at Mohakhali Kacha Bazaar, said, “Fishermen cannot catch fish during the cold wave in rural areas. Besides, supply has been dried up due to an increase in the number of marriage ceremony.”
However, Hilsa price has increased in the market. A hilsa weighing one kilogramme was being sold at Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,300, which was Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 last week.
Price of broiler chicken has increased Tk 10 to 15 per kg, which was being sold at Tk 160 per kg in the market.
